“You can stop at the location you will see once you return to live visuals. You can leave them in the open until jamming is gone. It’s too crowded for their sensors to work and there is no room for attack. Not without seeing them coming first well in advance.” The voice then disappeared as fast as the blue light did. This time, however, her panicking at the thought of how silly she’d look in front of them again vanished at the sight of her steady pace backpedaling. It was like nothing ever happened. Nothing but silence on the radio and on their highly limited perimeter scanners.

Oh. She then saw a small blue marked region coming up in about 200 meters. She swiveled the Axiom to a forward-facing gait, now catching the other’s attention.

“Sam, what happened? See something?” Kerry asked over the radio, masking her suspicion.

“No, not that. Look,” Sam spoke with a laser designator from her head unit painting a digital mark over a section of the street just before reaching Highway 26. “You see that pair of department stores? And that big bank, and the even bigger apartment building?”

“Yeah, why?” Andre asked with a hint of his suspicion showing.

“That’s a packed area with no heavy traffic at this hour. No one can see us from anywhere without them tripping off our perimeter sensors. We’re under jamming, right?”

“Um, yeah?” He continued.

“We are way too far from home base, guys,” Sam spoke with her best acting voice, feeling guilty about how much she had already gotten accustomed to her new string of lies. “We need to wait this shit out instead of constantly exposing ourselves in the open once that highway hits.”

There was a long, quiet, heavy pause that followed, bringing out more sweat from Sam. But she didn’t dare speak until someone replied.

“OK I am going to see where this little rabbit hole of yours goes,” Andre dryly replied. “I mean, you’re right. Everything you have been saying was exactly what I led my ragtag group earlier today with when the first jamming hit over at Memorial Circle. So yeah, why not?”

“You sure about all that?” Kerry answered with her own doubts. “I’d rather be home, not parking our asses in… wait…” She stopped her advance, causing the others to halt as well. She zoomed her visuals in on the upcoming highway, seeing there would be potentially a lot of night sky in view. She then looked upward, seeing several stories of commercial and residential steel and concrete blocking out that same sky almost completely. “No, I take it back. Y’all got good points.”

The three of them filed into the wide-open shoulder of the street, putting their fuel converters on cooldown. Sam took in a slow, deep breath, thankful to have another moment of peace to reorganize her thoughts. You know, what doesn’t make sense is how Tyrus was talking to me with jamming going on. Her eyes then started to wander around, checking both sides of the streets. He has to be near our- no, has to be in direct line of sight of this device or it couldn’t work. He’s here somewhere.

Kerry then broke the silence: “Listen. I got the system set to alert me once we regain connection, so we need to rotate here seeing we’re all beyond worn out. One in, two out.”

“But where?” Andre asked, still untrusting of the situation.

“I spotted a 24-hour internet café over there. We can buy something to hold us and nap there, whatever we need.”

“Oh boy, just like in a comic I used to read,” he huffed before resigning. “Sounds terrible but we can’t sit in these cockpits for hours and last. If shit ever hits the fan, whoever is out needs to stay in hiding while the one still loaded up needs to fucking run.”

“As long as jamming is up, they can’t find us without making noise or tripping our proximity sensors,” Kerry responded, folding her visor up. “So, sense me and Sam got the shit beat out of us, we deserve the break first.” She was unable to see Andre’s reaction as she removed her helmet, continuing to speak: “Half-hour rotations. And Sam, let me get you some wet napkins, first. No way in hell you go in like that.”

.

.

Back near the mountainside, Marian was still trying to decode several pieces of communication trails she picked up on over the past half hour. It was a lot of work for only what could be just one line of conversation, but it had to have been something when nothing should have been working. She continued making adjustments to the equipment she had up on her laptop she had laid on top of one of the machines before finally making out one fragment, and it was good enough for her to warrant picking up her communicator.

She walked over to the edge of the forest, pulling out her ocular and scanned the tree line opposite of her, finally finding Revenant’s IR marker as he hid toward the top of an abandoned mine. She then clicked her communicator once the LOS confirmation signal popped up. “Cable to Revenant.”

“Copy, Cable.”

“I just got some proof that says little Samantha has been talking to someone in Tyrus’ ranks. Back off the attack for now.”

“Shit, I’d believe it. Fuckers disappeared from IR scanners all the sudden and I never figured the best angle of approach.”

“Remain there until we lift jamming. We will hard-target them the instant the timers go off and the news reel runs.”

“Well, got no choice but to wait, I guess. Got any campfire stories for me while I wait?”

Marian clicked the communicator once more, shaking her head before going back to her post.

.

▽　▽　▽

.

.

The internet café was old and in dire need of renovating, but the warm glow of the lights and displays were a welcome sight for Kerry, reminding her of movies she saw when she was younger. Clutching her shouldered equipment satchel, she ordered a private cubicle and paid for six hours, drawing a confused look from the register attendant as she then made her way for the restroom. She had expected such looks, however, still in full her purple and white experimental pilot attire. Fortunately, the attendant would be the only one to notice as the place was empty.

In the meantime, Sam had finally made it down the ladder with her pilot suit in her bag she had on her shoulder. There, she took the moment to scope out the surroundings from ground view. It was a quiet as expected, minimal passing automobile traffic if any at all, and no on-foot traffic in sight. While waiting for Kerry, she had her hand in her left pocket, nervously fidgeting around with the communication device that remained a mystery.

You know, what if he’s looking at me from somewhere? The thought now had her looking around nervously, but at the same time with some curiosity. Tyrus’ existence was more of a mystery than a threat by this point, but her guard still remained up.

Kerry exited the building and passed her a few folded wet paper towels she quickly used to wipe her face and hands with. “Thanks. This is still kind of new territory for me,” she spoke as she recalled the blood paramedics cleaned from her face after her evacuation from Dhaka.

“Hey, between you and me,” Kerry started as she too had Sam a bit on edge, assuming the worst. She looked back up at Andre’s LTAC, parked and still silent. “I realize Andre has been more open lately than he’s ever been before- I mean, I think Dhaka changed all of us. But still.” She now looked back at Sam, who was now mostly cleaned up as far as her face and hands were concerned. “He has been as important to us being alive as any of us, and with that I have to be suspicious as well.”

“Of what?” Sam tried her best to hide any guilt she felt, looking for the nearest trash can as she awkwardly held up her wadded paper towels. “Why I stopped here of all places?”

“No. Come on, let’s talk inside,” Kerry said as she gently yet firmly took her by her left wrist toward the internet café’s entrance.

Sam tossed the wad into the bin as they passed it, Kerry passed her the equipment satchel she had and had her hold it over her bloodstained shirt. “Thanks.”

Sam made her way to the restroom to change into her pilot suit, which she found oddly heavy compared to their previous ones. But there was no questioning it as it was all she had clean on her. On her way back, she found the cubicle Kerry reserved for them to find her already sitting down with several bags of chips and two bottled milk teas.

“Come sit,” Kerry said with a hand patting the chair next to her, both facing the PC.

Well, this is fairly expected, she thought as her self-consciousness continued at maximum level. I am probably terrible at acting on top of it all. Ugh. “So, what did you want to ask?”

Her attempted smile had quickly vanished, taking a gentle hold of her left arm again. She slowly pulled up the sleeve and turned her wrist upward. “Your wrists are smooth as mine.”

Shit. Did I really use the zip-tie lie? “I don’t get it.”

“Of course not. You don’t break zip-ties and not get major cuts from it.”

“Huh? But how would you know?” Another awkward lie escaped her lips, making her feel more and more cornered and more difficult to keep up the façade.

Kerry had her strongest unamused expression going, pausing for about five seconds, never relinquishing her lockdown stare. “I had trauma care experience in the National Guard. I saw a lot of shit go down where I lived.”

Sam collapsed. Her eyes closed as a difficult breath rushed in.

Kerry watched her hang her head as she started shaking hers in disappointment. “Sam, mind telling me what’s really going on?”

Sam struggled to get her vocal cords moving, and when she did, it came out in a near-whisper. “Kerry, I’m trying not to involve you and Andre in things that will get you both in trouble,” she mumbled, looking toward the floor.

“Like…?” Kerry responded, adjusting her head to try to get level with Sam’s.

What do I do?! I don’t want to just spill it all. She looked the other direction, trying to buy time but doing a horrible job of it. I don’t know if I can trust her enough to- Wait! What am I saying?!

Kerry read the struggle, putting a hand on her shoulder without even thinking about it. “Sam…”

Sam was now hands over head, shaking it in her own disapproval. She doesn’t deserve this! She’s long earned my trust after the shit we’ve been through, and damn it, I need someone right now, real bad. This is Devin’s fiancée after all! She deserves to know! She finally found the strength to look her back in the eye. Fuck that planted gun threat he gave me. He can have it. “Kerry, look,” she said before clearing her throat.

A polite knock came at the cubicle door, startling them both. “Excuse me,” a small voice came from the other side.

“Yes?” the two replied in unison.

There was definitely no one else here! Did someone follow us?! Sam’s heart started racing, and Kerry felt those vibes, putting a hand over her bag as if ready to grab something.

“I have another one of these for your friend. Can I give this to her?” the voice continued with the enigmatic offer.

Sam looked to Kerry, initially with a look of confusion, but she quickly grew strongly suspicious. She then nodded, watching Kerry slowly get a grip of the sidearm she had in her bag. She then looked to the door and scooted just out of the way in case Kerry had to draw, opening the door slowly.

Huh!?

It was the young woman she saw at the street earlier who gave her that device she had been using to talk to Tyrus. And in her two cusped hands she held yet another one: same color, same shape. Sam quickly put a hand up to signal Kerry to put it away, sliding back in her chair. “Did you follow me?!” she hissed through her astonishment.

“Sam, who the hell!?” Kerry stepped in, matching the same low volume.

The lady made her way in, putting a hand up in a polite gesture excusing her rudeness. She saw there was one unoccupied chair behind them as she took a seat, regardless of how unwelcomed her entrance was. Kerry never removed her hand fully from the bag as her eyes followed her, heart racing. “You don’t need that,” the lady whispered with a smile. “I have no weapons.”

Kerry slowly pulled her hand away, looking now mostly at Sam for a clue.

“Um,” Sam started, not sure who to speak to first. Shit, shit, shit! Why is SHE here of all people and all times?! What the hell am I supposed to do now?! But before she could figure out how to start, the lady extended her device to Kerry.

“What is that?! Do I know you?!” Kerry lurched back in her chair, unreceptive of the offering gesture.

“Tenshi brought his girlfriend here,” she started up again, continuing to hold out the device. “And now I see you are Samantha’s only close friend. This means you are already involved. Please, take it.”

Sam joined Kerry in their combined offense mixed with confusion, unable to make a response. Kerry finally broke that ensuing silence with a scoff before speaking: “Involved in what? You not gonna tell me who you are?”

The lady continued to smile, unaffected by their rejections, and now looking at Sam. “We learned she is the one who helped save you from Revenant and his people. You owe her the truth, and you must agree she needs to find her Tenshi.” She took their continued silence as her cue to exit, now putting the device in Sam’s lap. “You can give it to her. Tyrus never cares how you join. Just that you understand you join.”

Sam watched her leave, close the door, and silently disappear, leaving the two of them in an awkward silence and an additional communicator in her lap.

“OK!” Kerry fussed wide-eyed through a whisper, looking back at Sam once more. “Explain what the ever-living fuck that was!”

Well! I REALLY have no choice now! Sam gathered her words, taking grip of the device in plans to pass it to her. It then started to vibrate in the same eerie fashion as hers earlier, startling the both of them. Sam’s was short-lived, however, remembering what happened next. She held it up to her, pointing to the one small button on it. “He must have something to tell you. Here, take it, and click this.”

“And who is HE?” Kerry had way more than that on her mind that she wanted to say, but at least this was a simple enough of a start. She reluctantly followed along, clicking the button before hearing something humming softly through her earpiece. “Andre?” But as soon as Sam could tell Kerry heard a response, her immediate answer back wasn’t a friendly one. “Alright cut the bullshit for real! Who is this?! … Tyrus who?!”

While Kerry continued to angrily whisper during the extent of their exchange Sam was unable to listen in on, unfortunately, the thought occurred that this was all still during an intense jamming interference. Sam opened the door and looked around, seeing not a soul in sight other than the attendant who was busy looking at his mobile. Is it him? No, has to be the girl, but where is she? She then looked to Kerry and hinted her suspicions.

“I’ll be back one second! Something doesn’t make sense here!” She quietly closed the door and quietly but casually approached the attendant. “Excuse me, you don’t mind us being here during this mess, do you?”

“Actually, no!” He turned to face her with a shy smile. She was surprised at his fluency as well. “I am hoping you can solve this problem with the wireless internet. I heard the problem hit Quezon earlier, and now it’s here, too?”

She was able to get a quick glance at his mobile’s screen without being noticed, catching that it was sitting on a WIFI settings screen. Maybe he’s not the one? “Yeah, tell us about it. Jamming has us in dire need of connectivity.”

The attendant continued to smile, waving off the issue. “Well, I’m glad to say we have wired internet, so please, have at it! I won’t turn away customers!”

So it was that GIRL who had the transmitter! But where is she?!

“Thanks!” Sam returned the wave as she made her way back to the cubicle. But there’s no way I step outside carelessly looking like- She was interrupted mid-thought by Kerry reaching out and pulling her inside, quickly shutting the door.

“Sam!?” Kerry had a hard time keeping her voice to such quiet levels with how visibly upset she was like someone had just defiled her whole family’s image.

Sam then immediately feared Tyrus gave her knowledge she wished he hadn’t. “Kerry, please! Let me explain if you can give me the chance.”

“You’d fucking better!”

Sam took her seat, avoiding the laser-like glare burning into her soul. “Devin made me swear not to tell you anything because he was deathly afraid of you getting involved and hurt in the process.”

Kerry’s pointed and wagged finger added to the feeling of being cut down to size. “He AND you both are going to be deathly afraid of my foot up y’all’s ass if you don’t make it make sense! And I mean right now!” Her voice then suddenly changed to more of one in pain. “How could you hide this from me?!”

She’s right. Damn, now that I think about it, I was more worried about what Devin would do to me if I told Kerry, not what would happen to Kerry if I didn’t. She finally found the courage to look her back face to face, lips curled back. “I’m sorry, I really am. I… look, he came to the Casino thinking you were the target.”

“He what?!”

“He was the one who picked me up. He was expecting it to be you he rescued, not me.”

Kerry quickly settled back down, perhaps realizing she was getting a bit emotional as well. “He-wait… he… was expecting me to get in the car? But I don’t get it.”

Sam took some relief from the change in atmosphere, guilty of what she was charged with, but was glad she didn’t end up ruining everything all at once. “It’s a real, real long story. How long ‘til it’s Andre’s break?”

“Hmm… Fifteen more minutes.”

Sam grabbed one of the water bottles and unscrewed the cap, getting ready for a long explanation. “Here goes.”